This “light on action, heavy on subtext” approach can be found in other directors oeuvres, including Aki Kaurismäki, Jim Jarmusch, and even Italy’s own Michelangelo Antonioni but Salvatores demonstrates no interest in allowing this film’s pieces to measure up to something greater than the sum of their parts. Too many segments in this episodic plot add nothing to the overarching commentary on escapism.

This is certainly not a one sided film about war propaganda as the Americans seem able to do with everything.
Italian soldiers that during WWII have to occupy a 'highly' strategic Greek island, soldiers that from the start are shown with great humanity and not the hard boiled ones you see in Vietnam war movies. Witty and positive and after viewing, it makes the world seem like a better place.